The Friends of Frontenac Park Celebrate “The Year of the Bird

May 30, 2018

Is has been 100 years since North American laws protecting migratory birds were passed. To commemorate the success of this legislation, the National Geographic Society has designed 2018 as “The Year of the Bird”, inviting nature lovers around the world to continue to protect birds today and for the next one hundred years.

In celebrating The Year of the Bird, The Friends of Frontenac Park will be offering a variety of educational programs and events to teach people of all ages about our local bird species, and to engage the community in monitoring local bird populations. Hands-on, interactive displays will provide an up-close look at birds so as to facilitate species identification, while focused workshops will deliver training in winter bird identification, bird taxidermy, and Citizen Science. In addition to holding events at Frontenac Provincial Park, some programs will take place in the village of Sydenham, a change The Friends hope will be more accessible to local residents.

“Birds” will be the theme of this year’s Frontenac Challenge, an annual fall event that encourages people to hike all of Frontenac Provincial Park’s trail loops, and experienced birders will be inviting others to join them on a Challenge hike. Through these hikes, The Friends hope that park visitors, in learning to identify different birds, will add an enjoyable new perspective to their Challenge experience and future backcountry travels.

The Friends of Frontenac’s Year of the Bird celebrations will culminate with the 4th annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 15. In addition to the formal census that attracts close to 50 field surveyors, The Friends will again be hosting a family-friendly Christmas Bird Count for Kids at Frontenac Provincial Park. This year, participants will be able to choose from among a diverse range of age-appropriate activities throughout a full day, including trying out some formal CBC field surveying within the park.

The Community Foundation for Kingston and Area is supporting The Friends of Frontenac’s celebrations with a $3,359 Community Grant. This funding, made possible through the Environmental Legacy Fund, the Ruth and Stu Barton Community Fund, and the Gordon Barr Ltd. Fund., will enhance efforts to promote the incredible diversity of birds in Frontenac County and will help establish long-term monitoring of local bird populations.

Through this project, The Friends of Frontenac envision a community engaged in bird conservation, where people of all ages are empowered by a knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of local bird species and populations. Both migratory birds and our local resident species depend on continued protection in the years to come.

Quotes

“If you take care of birds, you take care of most of the environmental problems in the world.”

– Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, Professor and “Godfather of Biodiversity”

“Birds are a gateway to nature appreciation: They are ubiquitous, accessible, and easily observed by everyone.”

– Carolyn Bonta, Year of the Bird Project Coordinator

“This generous grant helps The Friends launch an exciting new series of experiences for Park visitors to learn about and enhance their appreciation of the rich biodiversity right here in our backyard!”

– Simon Smith, President, The Friends of Frontenac Park

Quick Facts

Two federal laws, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (United States) and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (Canada), were originally passed in 1916-17 and now protect more than 800 species of migratory birds in North America.

The Friends of Frontenac Park’s mission is to undertake activities to enhance appreciation of the ecosystem of Frontenac Provincial Park. This includes working to create programs to promote public awareness, education, and understanding of the park’s natural heritage.

The Community Foundation for Kingston and Area envisions a vibrant, creative community where everyone has the opportunity to take part in building a caring, healthy and culturally rich community. They work with donors to strengthen our community by making strategic and effective grants, growing and managing a lasting endowment, and serving the community as a resource and partner.

Citizen Science is the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.

Christmas Bird Counts are the longest-running Citizen Science project in North America, and the information collected through this census forms one of the world’s largest sets of wildlife survey data and provides valuable insight on the distribution and abundance of local bird populations.

The Frontenac Challenge was established in 1993 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ontario provincial parks system. This event encourages hikers to enjoy the splendor of the fall colours of Frontenac Provincial Park by hiking each of the 11 loops that form the Frontenac Challenge within the months of September and October.

Learn More & Contact Us

Visit www.frontenacpark.ca/pages/Friends_schedule.html frequently for notice of Year of the Bird events and workshops as they are scheduled or call the Frontenac Provincial Park office. For more general information on this project, please contact the Year of the Bird Project Coordinator:

Frontenac Provincial Park

phone: 613-376-3489

Carolyn Bonta

Year of the Bird Project Coordinator

phone: 613-531-4578

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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